Neja

History

NEJA was built in our garage/backyard by my Dad and I. It was all done at home from the loft, hull, casting the lead keel, aluminum mast, conversion of light weight 1958 Renault to a marine engine, pattern for bronze fitting and folding prop. Pictures on construction inside, loft to launch. She been in the family for 60 years.

NEJA spent her first 20 years in Newport Beach racing under the CCA rule rating 25.7’, the IOR, and PHRF rating 198 to 204 sec./nm. She had trouble sailing to her rating in the light winds in Southern California. She sailed to SF in 1982 and was given a rating of 174 sec./nm. In spite of the handicap reduction she thrived in the fresh breeze in the bay area. In the 51 YRA races in bay & ocean over the next 3 years she won 24, 2nd in 8, and 3rd in 5 including winning the Farallon Island Race in 1983 and the Vallejo Race. In the 2019 race back from Vallejo in 12-20 knots with a flood tide she was 1st in class and 11th/130 starters in the fleet, showing that even against modern boats, she can still be tough to beat going to weather in a breeze. 

NEJA is a stripped mahogany hull held with resorcinol glue and edge nailed with silicon bronze boat nails. After the hull is formed over temporary templates, oak frames and floors are added. 

Sister Boats Same Design | Boat Builder | Location & Year Built | Location Raced

• DASHER | South Coast Shipyard | Newport Beach | 1952 | So. Cal

• MADCAP | South Coast Shipyard | Newport Beach | 1953 | Newport Beach

• VIXEN | South Coast Shipyard |Newport Beach |1953 | So. Cal.

• NEJA | Homebuilt, Jim Borger | Burbank | 1958-61 | Newport Beach & SF

• SCOTCH MIST | Easom |Sausalito | 1960 | SF & So. Cal.

• SERENADE | Easom | Sausalito |1960 | SF

• BABY GRAND II | Easom | Sausalito |1961 | SF

• DULCINEA | Easom | Sausalito |1961 | SF